Invasion
Invasion Description
1st Record: Palau/Ongeim’l Tketau (also known as Jellyfish Lake) (11/2003, Marino et al. 2008, 'at the foot of the dock where visitors enter the lake')
Geographic Extent
Palau/Ongeim’l Tketau (also known as Jellyfish Lake) (11/2003, covered 1/3 of lakes area by 12/2006, Marino et al. 2008);
Vectors
| Level | Vector |
|---|---|
| Alternate | Hull Fouling |
| Alternate | Pet Release |
| Alternate | Unknown Vector |
Regional Impacts
| Ecological Impact | Competition | |
| 'Currently, no quantitative data exist to describe the impact Aiptasia sp. is having on the ecosystem. However, it is clear from direct observation that Aiptasia sp. is a thriving competitor for space and can heavily alter benthic diversity (Figure 16.9). Mangrove root and shallow water communities that were once dominated (in terms of both space and numbers) by algae or diverse assemblages of invertebrates are now dominated by invasive anemones' (Marino et al. 2008) | ||
| Economic Impact | Aesthetic | |
| Jellyfish Lake is one of Palau's majpr tourist attractions, where divers can swim among dense swarms of beautiful, non-stinging, migrating jellyfish (Mastigias sp.). Impacts of Aiptasia on this ecosystem are not known, but could constitute a threat to this unique ecosystem. Small-scale attempts of eradication have been unsuccessful (Marino et al. 2008). | ||